Legendary Austin Blues Musician Lou Ann Barton

The golden era of the Austin blues scene began in the early 1970s and Lou Ann Barton was always at the center of it. With Antone’s, the legendary Austin blues club for a base, the early Austin blues scene was dominated by legendary players such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, W.C. Clark, Angela Strehli and of course Lou Ann Barton.

Clifford Antone’s club was the home of the blues in Austin for many years and Lou Ann many times performed with the house band as it welcomed blues royalty from across the country. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and many other top national blues acts frequented Antone’s. Many times, after close, Clifford Antone would strap on his bass and jam with Lou Ann and others ’til the sun came up.

Lou Ann Barton played with Stevie Ray Vaughan steadily into the early 1980s, first with the Cobras and then with Double Trouble. She also spent some time with Roomful Of Blues and in 1975 helped W.C. Clark start the significant Austin band, the W.C. Clark Blues Revue.

In 1982, Lou Ann was signed by Asylum records and cut an album called “Old Enough.” Unfortunately, sales were poor and Asylum quickly cut her loose. “Read My Lips” was recorded in 1989 on the Antone’s label and was successful. In 1990 Lou Ann was featured on “Dreams Come True,” along with piano superstar Marci Ball and Austin’s Angela Strehli. Lou Ann made it onto Austin City limits in 1990 when she performed again with the W.C. Clark Blues Revue. Kim Wilson and the Vaughan brothers were also on this bill.

Today Lou Ann is doing her part to keep the blues alive as she currently tours with Jimmie Vaughan.